Well, to heal of damages caused by freezing, and the above mentioned radiation, using some nanotech, is one thing. But there is a bigger problem here: those frozen are died already. So we need to invent resurrection, as well, first. If it's possible. So the whole idea is extreme materialistic.

The literally fatal flaw in long term cryogenic storage of bodies is accumulated radiation poisoning.

Normally we are continuously exposed to low level radiation causing small amounts of cellular damage. Our bodies have mechanisms to repair or destroy cells that are damaged in this way so we don't have any real problem.

When you freeze a corpse the damage continues at the same rate but the repair and elimination mechanisms aren't operating. When you finally do get revived all your dead and damaged cells are in the same state as if you had received a massive blast of radiation - e.g. from a nearby nuclear explosion.

For short periods cryogenic storage is 'survivable' for longer periods you'll be about as healthy as deep fried chicken.

Welp...cryogenics are a really nice idea...I am not a scientist or an expert...but when I was in 2nd grade I learnt about the wonderful properties of water. Water apparently expands in heat (like other liquids) but also in cold. Which as far as I know is a feature unique only to water.

Now the human body contains some degree of water. When that water freezes it expands.
I'll give you a home lab exercise, freeze some vegetable & defrost a day later.
Is it still fresh? it basically turns mushy...

Thats because all the water expands and destroys the cell structure. The damage is irrecoverable.

There are perhaps better ways to preserve the human body, but so far rapid cooling seems to have serious flaws. Flaws that might be impossible to address in our lifetime. Or perhaps even in several life times.

Before we see people jumping at the idea of throwing themselves in giant freezers (whith a cheaper option of freezing only their heads!!) wouldn't it be nice to see creatures closer to humans being safely defrosted back to life?
After all, humans are not roaches. Insects may provide proof of concept, but not proof of process.
I know there have been some interesting developments in keeping animals in suspended animation of sorts using intravenous fluids. But that is not the same freezing process that is referred to here.

So lets first see cryogenics performed on a mouse. Ifthey can bring back a mouse, its definitely possible they can do it with a person at some point. (well almost definitely. We are not mice either.)

Currently I see more chances to transfer our mental contents (AKA consciousness) into computers. We could potentially (and are very close to achieving) build an interface that acts as an adapter between the human brain and a microchip. (this is already happening in different areas, but not as a unified interface)

Wanna dowloand your homework? would be easier to remember... ;-)


P.S.

Nanomachines are definitely the way forward. But they were not the catalyst in mind when all those famous people decided to freeze themselves.

Cryosis, public key encryption, nanotechnology...
Here's another idea that has met with resistance yet is clearly the way of the future: SSP.
(It stands for Space Solar Power, check the wackjobs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_solar_power).
Realistically, the only barrier (besides technology) is that crucial initial investment. Sigh!

The full text of Eric Drexler's Engines of Creation is available for free on his website:

http://www.e-drexler.com/d/06/00/EOC/EOC_Table_of_Contents.html


There's an updated version "Engines of Creation 2.0" available as a free ebook if you look around.

Ralph Merkle's page on nanotechnology is at:

http://www.zyvex.com/nano/

And I rarely discuss nanotech without mentioning the Foresight Institute:

http://www.foresight.org

Cheers.

But wouldn't the logical extension of developing nanomachines to repair cellular damage from thawing be to have the nanomachines construct a container ("body") right from raw materials? You wouldn't necessarily have to use the same biological processes, but could design and build a more efficient non-organic body and brain, then you would avoid entirely the problems with thawing and just transfer your "consciousness" into a non-organic, but self-repairing body. But then who would want to live forever when the people you can't stand now would have the same option?